Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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Minneapolis could soon get a coveted culinary honor: a Michelin-star restaurant.

Michelin announced Wednesday that it’s launching an American Great Lakes guide to restaurants, including Minneapolis and five other Great Lakes-area cities. It’s the first time reviewers will consider Minneapolis restaurants for the honor.

The inaugural guide, with its first restaurant selections, is set to be released next year.

Michelin Guide leaders made the announcement in Milwaukee on Wednesday morning, alongside tourism leaders from each city included in the new guide. Meet Minneapolis President Melvin Tennant said he’s excited to put a spotlight on the city’s restaurants. 

“For years our culinary scene has earned national acclaim, yet we’ve still been called unexpected, underrated,” Tennant said. “We’re taking a major step on the global stage.” 

The city’s culinary scene boasts a number of other awards, including James Beard 

But Michelin reviewers have never worked in Minneapolis — until now.

A Meet Minneapolis spokesperson said the Minneapolis Tourism Improvement District is investing $250,000 per year in the project. The partnership with the Michelin Guide runs from 2027 to 2029. Meet Minneapolis said only restaurants within city limits will be considered for the guide.

Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide, said the cities included in the new guide — Cleveland, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh and Detroit, in addition to Minneapolis — all deserve the recognition. 

“We are excited to finally be putting a stake in the ground in the Great Lakes region, spotlighting the talent and food cultures across these six great cities,” Poullennec said. 

Poullennec said Michelin reviewers are already on the ground in those cities. Michelin keeps the specifics of its reviewing process secret, along with the identities of its reviewers. 

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Estelle Timar-Wilcox

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Michelin announced Wednesday that it’s launching an American Great Lakes guide to restaurants, including Minneapolis and five other Great Lakes-area cities. It’s the first time reviewers will consider Minneapolis restaurants for a coveted Michelin star.

Michelin Guide announces expansion to include Minneapolis restaurants

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